Redevelopment of Ajax steam plant underway

Partial demolition of plant beginning

A partial demolition permit was issued for the removal of the east part of the plant, on Mills Road, beginning phase one of its redevelopment.

"The Index Energy steam plant is one of the key projects in the development of the new downtown Ajax," said Mayor Steve Parish. "The modernized facility will generate enough renewable energy to power 6,000 households annually, and will reduce energy costs for local industries and facilities choosing to use steam generated from the plant."

When the plant's redevelopment is complete, it will generate 18 megawatts of clean energy using state-of-the-art combustion equipment, and have a new building and enclosed fuel storage area.

Wood biomass will be burnt at the plant to create steam, which is said to be carbon neutral, adding no net carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Until its redevelopment is complete in mid-2014, the plant will remain shut down. The first phase of redevelopment involves all outside work -- landscaping, site servicing, equipment installation and renovation and extension of the building. Phase two is expected to start next fall.

The steam plant was built in 1941 to provide power for the Defence Industries Limited plant, where more than 9,000 workers produced more than 40 million bomb shells to help the Allied Forces win the Second World War. The revitalization aims to maintain the wartime history of the plant.

The plant's redevelopment is part of the revitalization of downtown Ajax. For more information on this and other revitalization projects, visit www.thenewdowntownajax.com.

Reporter Tara Hatherly can be found on Twitter @Tara_Hatherly and on Facebook by searching Tara Hatherly.